Jewel
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Jewel
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Jewel is a tense drama with a real-life massacre 62 years ago in South Africa as the backdrop. Several languages are spoken with subtitles provided. There's no gore, but tension and dread are pervasive, and flashbacks show victims running away and police shooting at their backs. There are two murders by forced injection of insulin, also not gory. There's a punch in the face, an assault, an elbow to the gut, and verbal and physical intimidation and threats. Two simulated sex scenes don't show sensitive body parts but show thrusting and grunting. There's also some kissing, caressing, breasts visible under sheer clothes, and both opposite-sex and same-sex romances. Strong language includes "f--k" and "bulls--t." Adults drink alcohol socially, and several adults smoke cigarettes.
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What's the Story?
JEWEL is the story of a work trip that professional Cape Town photographer Tyra (Michelle Botes) takes to the country town of Sharpeville, where a terrible massacre took place in 1960. While touring the town, Tyra becomes strangely drawn to a beautiful young woman she sees around town, Siya (Nqobile Khumalo). Tyra asks Siya to be her unofficial tour guide, which raises suspicion and jealousy in Siya's boyfriend, Tshepo (Senzo Radebe). Truths about the past and the present bubble up to the surface amid clashes between different ideas about justice, revenge, and moving out from under the dark cloud of the past.
Is It Any Good?
This is a tension-filled, almost gothic drama with some fine points, but also some problems that make it a bit of a mixed bag. Jewel is a compelling exploration of how different kinds of people are affected by tragedy, and how they try to deal with it, even many years later. There are some fine performances and some that just get the job done. Some of the storytelling is confusing, with scenes that are hard to understand or seem unnecessary, and the music chosen to create tension and drama is overused and overdone.
That said, mature teens who can handle the sex and violence will learn a lot about apartheid, the Sharpeville massacre, and how past tragedies continue to reverberate into the future. It's a good starting point for important conversations and may encourage further learning about South Africa.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Jewel handles the violence, both present day and the past massacre. Does it inform or educate, or is it gratuitous? Why?
What about the sex? Is it there for a reason? Is it too much?
How much did you know about the apartheid system in South Africa before you saw this movie? Did you know about the Sharpeville massacre? How is the past, systemic brutality affecting people all these years later?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 8, 2022
- Cast: Michelle Botes, Nqobile Khumalo, Connie Chiume
- Director: Adze Ugah
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models, History
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Perseverance
- Run time: 80 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 12, 2022
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